The role of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in supporting college science and engineering education at the undergraduate level is discussed, along with important factors in the national environment, including economic challenges facing the country, and the foundation's relationship to research and education. Because of a shift to a global economy in which there is sharp international competition, it is in the nation's interest to strengthen science education; however, there is a shortage of engineers, scientists, and mathematicians with advanced degrees to staff colleges and government and industry laboratories. Attracting students into these fields is an important policy issue. NSF has a new program to provide instructional equipment to colleges. To develop scientific and technical talent, NSF sponsors the Research in Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions Program. For faculty, there are opportunities to join an existing NSF-supported project or to serve on NSF review panels, advisory committees, and rotator program officer positions. A special committee of NSF is conducting public hearings on the state of undergraduate science and engineering education. The federal research and development budget for the mid-1980s is briefly discussed. (SW)